Railway-freight-car door



Jy 17,. m3. 1.4624 02 v C. E. WEBSTER RAILWAY FREIGHT CAR noon Filed July 20. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jul 17, 1923. 1%2402 I v c. E. WEBSTER RAILWAY FREIGHT CAR DOOR Filed July 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 1?,19523.

a trip.

CHARLES E. WEBSTER, OF WINTHROP, MINNESOTA.

RAILWAY-FREIGHTCAR DOOR.

Application filed. July 20, 1922. Serial No. 576,317.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. VVEB- srnm a citizen of the United States, residing at Winthrop, in the county of, Sibley and State of vMinnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Railway-Freight-Car Doors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved door which is especially designed for use on railway freight cars, and the same may be conveniently referred to as a grain door, although it is equally well intended for use when sand or other granular material is being shipped.

The principal object of the invention is to generally improve upon closures'of this class by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability which is composed of comparatively few and inexpensive parts to render the door inexpensive to both the manufacturer and the user. i

It is another object and aim to produce a door of this class which will absolutely prevent leakagev of the grain while in transit, the door being such in construction that it is held in operative position by the pres sure of the grain against it, but is permitted to collapse when the lower boards are removed. I

More specifically speaking, it is'a further object of the invention to devise a. novel grain door composed of duplicate sections bearing at their outer ends against the car body and arranged to diverge toward their inner ends, the last named ends being engageable with a novel sustaining member which is interposed between them, this means being such in construction that it facilitates assembling of the closure, securely retains the parts in operative relation, and permits automatic collapsing when the lowermost boards are removed.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a unique door or closure which does not require any fastenings, hangers, or special mounting means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a door constructed in accordance with this invention showing the same in use.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section, the door being shown in plan.

Figure 3 is a similar View showing a modilied construction of car body and manner in which the improved door co-acts therewith.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the novel sustaining member showing more clearly the manner of connecting it with the bottom of the car body and the manner in which the lower boards are released. I

Figure 5 is a detail view of the lower end of the sustaining bar, with parts in section showing more clearly the improved device for maintaining the lowermost boards in operative position.

Figure 6 is a detail'perspective view of this sustaining bar or member.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of a portion of one of the stops of the car body against which the door sections bear.

F igure 9 is a perspective view of the floor plate, with which the lower end of the sustaining bar is connected.

In the drawings, the letters B designate the side walls of a car body, the letter 0 represents the door opening, P designates the vertical door posts, and S represents the stops which are secured to these posts in the manner shown.

Briefly described, the invention resides in the employment of a novel closure for the opening 0 in the side of the car body. T he closure preferably embodies duplicate sections formed of inner and outer rows or layers of boards arranged with their longitudinal edges in abutting relation. These boards are detachably connected with one another and at their outer ends, they rest against the door posts P and stops S. At their opposite ends however, they are spaced from one another and diverge toward each other. In this space, novel sustaining means in the form of a bar is positioned, this means being connected with the bottom of the car in a manner to permit it to be swung inwardly to facilitate as sembling of the boards and outwardly to permit the boards to bind tightly against it when the grain exerts pressure against the inner boards. The sustaining member embodies a retractable part which cooperates with the lowermost boardsand permits these to be removed to permit the grain to out into the carrier or other suitable means in which it is desiredto deposit it.

Specifically described, the improved door or'closure comprises the duplicate sections represented by the reference characters 1.

innerrow serve'to cover the cracks between theboards of the remaining row. Consequently, the closure is thus rendered leakproof. As seen clearly in the'drawings and as hereinbefore pointed out, the boards 2 rest at their outer ends against the door posts and stop strips which are secured to Fig. 4:.

these. At their opposite diverging ends however they engage with 'a novelsustaining member which is very clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. Although this memberflcould be of some other construction, it is preferably in the form of an I-beam 3 having relatively narrow and wideinner and outer flanges '4: and 5 respectively. It is between these flanges-that the inner diverging ends of the boards 2 are confined. Of course,zin order to permit, easy assembling of the boards, it is necessary that the beam be connected with the car body in a manner'to permit it to be moved inward to the approximate dotted line position shown in I therefore have devised novel means for connecting thebeam at its lower end with the floorF of the car body. The meanspreferred comprises a substantially rectangular plate .6 which is screwed or' otherwise securely fastened to the floor over a recess 7 formed in-thelatter. Although it is not essential, it is desirable to have theplate flush with the upper face of the floor. As seen clearly in Fig. 9, this plate is formed with a substantially crossshaped slot 8 and inasmuch as a portion of the web 9 of the aforesaid beard-projects beyond the adjacent ends of the flanges 1 and 5, and as this'extended partis enlarged at 10 and carries a cross pin 1O ,-it will-be seen that by passing said part through the slot with the pin engaging the underface of the plate beneath the longitudinal portion I of said slot, a pivotahanddetachable connection for the beam'will be had. WVith such a connection, the beam is capable of being slid a slight distance inwardly or outwardly as required in some instances. Also, the beam can be entirely removed from the car to prevent the door opening from being obstructed by its presence. It is obvious that the aforesaid recess 7 serves to accommodate theenlarged lower end 10 of the beam which extends into it, and permits swinging'or sliding of the beam. At;

this point, it may be logically mentioned that any suitable means (not shown) may be employed'for connecting the upper end of the'beam' with the car. In most instances however, this means can be dispensed with entirely-as it is not altogether necessary.

It has been before intimated that this novel sustaining beam or baris equipped with unique retractable retainingmean s for cooperation with the lowermost boards for holding these in operative position, this reta-ining means being such that as soon as it is released, it permits the lowermost boards to be displaced from the door opening and permits collapsing of the entire structure for discharging the grain from the car. Thisretractable retaining'device could be of some otherconstruction, but it is preferably in the formof a break-joint device which is maintained in an operative condition by unique releasemea'ns. -By directing attention to Figure 6, wherein'the device under consideration can be more clearly seen, the

numeral 11 designates apart which is pivotally connected with tlie enlargement 12 at the lower end of the wide flange 5'. The part 11 is provided with longitudinal flanges 18 which are decreased in size toward the free end of this part 11. By "so designing the flanges, they constitute cams which act 'in'a manner to be hereinafter described; 'Continuing with this brake-joint locking device, it will beseen that it also embodies a'sub stantially channel-shapedmember 14 which has its flanges extended beyond one end and pivotallyconnected at15 to the intermediate portions of the aforesaid flanges 13. The

free feather-like end of the part 11 is intend-- ed for disposition betweenthe side flanges of the channel member 14 when this locking device is in operative-state, and a slidable release device 16 is intended for co-action with the, thinned end of this part 11. It is to be noted that this release device 16 embodies a slotted portion '17 which is slidably and piv otally connected with the pin lfl'carried by said member 14:. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the release member 16 overlies the free end of the part 11 and serves toprevent relative pivotal movement ofthe'parts 11- and 14-. To act in conjunction with this release element '16, the member 14 is equipped on its free end with a reduced portion 19 adapted for reception in the notch 20 formed in the enlarged end 10 of'the bar. If desired,.in the portion 19 may be formed the small notch 21 for co-action :with the key 22 formed in the aforesaid notch 20. To fur ther act in connection with the release element 16, I prefer to equip the flanges of the member 14 with oppositely disposed elongated slots 23 and to pass a locking pm 24 through these slots so' as to hermit it to extend crosswise of the release element 16to prevent it from being swung outwardly to the dotted line position indicated inFigure 1-. In practice if it is not desired to use a pin for this purpose, a wire having a seal (not shown) connecting the endstogether may be employed. As a matter of fact, this is preferred in many instances. By carefully'examining the detail 16 it will be seen that when this is slid downwardly to position the pivot pin 18 in the upper end of theslotted portion 17, it will be impossible to swing it to a position to permit breaking of the joint between the parts 11 and 14. How ever, by sliding the element 16 upwardly to position the pivot pin 18 in the opposite end of theslot, it can be swung to the dotted line position indicated to permit breaking of the joint. I direct attention here to the fact that as the release element 16 is slid upwardly to accomplish this result, the free end thereof rides against the inclined cam-flanges 13 of the part 11 and it is thus moved outwardly sufiiciently far to permit it to be engaged by the fingers for swingingupon 1ts pivot to release the part 11. Although it has been inferred that the release 16 will be pulled out.- Wardly by hand, it is understood that any suitable implement or instrument may be used for accomplishing this end.

Directing attention now to other features of this novel sustaining bar, it will be seen that the aforesaid narrow flange 1 is notched at the points 25 and these notches are employed to permit an insert, such as a wedge or the like to be disposed between the ends of the boards and the web of the bar, for the purpose of preventing the latter from tilting too far outwardly to permit assembling of the upper boards of the structure. I also wish to point out that if desired, the web of the bar may be equipped with integral substantially V-shaped ribs 26 which are intended to become embedded in the ends of the boards to assist in holding the latter in lace. p To equip a conventional type of freight car with a closure construction in accordance with this invention, it is only necessary to form the aforesaid recess 7 in the floor F a slight distance inward of the adjacent outer edge of the floor, the recess being disp'osed at the proper point intermediate the ends of the door opening 0. The anchoring plate 6 is thensecured to the floor withythe cross-shaped slot thereof disposed over the recess. This plate is to be permanently left in position. With the plate in place, the sustaining beam or member 3 is brought into play, the pin lO 'being passed through the transverse part of the slot 8 and the beam being moved outwardly to position the pin beneath the longitudinally disposed portion of this slot as evident from Fig. 1. Assuming that the beam has been thus connected with. the floor of the car body, the next step is to tilt the same inwardly so that it assumes an inclined position. When in this position, the several boards 2 can have their inner ends placed between the flanges 4c and 5. It is advisable to arrange the beam so that the relatively narrow flange is on the inner side,'as the inner ends of the boards will more readily clear it. The boards are placed in from the top of the beam and are dropped down into their proper position as is obvious. I advocate placing the boards only up to a certain height so as to permit the grain to be inserted through the opening between the uppermost boards and the top of the car. Since the grain would have a tendency to tilt the upper end of the sustaming bar outwardly when the grain reaches a certain height in the car, I contemplate, as before indicated, placing an insert, such as a wedge or the like against'the web of the bar at the point where the flange 4c is notched as at 25. The ends of the boards then bear against the insert instead of directly against the web of the beam and the grain cannot pus-h the latter outwardly to a degree which would prevent completion of the door by inserting the upper boards. Of course, after the rest ofthe boards are put in position, the insert can be removed so that thebeam will be permitted to move outwardly under the influence of the grain to bind the inner ends of all of the boards against the ribs of the beam. The grain thus'functions to maintain the closure in place.

Assuming that it is desired to discharge the grain fromthe car to a suitable carrier or th like,it is onlynecessary to remove the locking pin 24 or seal, whichever is employed, so as to permit the release 16 to be moved in a manner to permit breaking of the oint of the locking device. After the pm 2 1 has been removed, this release 16 is moved upwardly and in so doing, the free edge thereof is engaged with the inclined edges of the flanges 13 of the part 11 and the free end of the release is automatically moved away from the bottom of the member 14. An instrument can then beinserted between the release 16 and part 11 and the former swung outwardly upon its pivot so as to permit relative pivotal movement of the parts 11 and 1 1. After the release is swung readily discharged.

&

the removal of the lowermost board of the closure, the entire closure will collapse. to permit the remainder' -of-the grain to be It is manifest from the tion that Ihave evolved and produced'a novel closure for door openings 11 freight? cars which. is especially adaptable for use when grains and other granular materials are being shiped. I As before intimated, the closure is economical in cost and in maintenance, itis substantiallyleak-proof and such in construction that it does not re quire special fastenings and mounting means. The closure is adjustable for differ ent size openings and is entirely removable from the opening to prevent the same from being obstructed. The constructionis also such that the vibrations and jars'cau'sed by 'the movement of the carwill serve to pack the material tighter and to bind the boards of the closure against their respective abutments to produce a tight and eil'ective'closure;

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown in Fig. 3, a slightly modified con struction of car .body, wherein thestops S are secured to theinner faces of the sides of the body so as to permit the ends of the boards to bear, against them instead of against the posts. as hereinbefore described. In th s showing, the posts P act in the manner. thatthe stops S do. as alsoset forth.

7 It is thereforedesirableto form the posts with such an arrangement at-their. lower ends with notches to facilitate displacement of the lower sets of boards when the grain is being discharged. So far as the construction. otthe closure is concerned, no change is necessary as this will accommodate either construction or car body and Wlll beefiective for use in closing openings ofvarious sizes.

In cases where the floor of the car is very irregular, packing, such as paper 27 (see Fig.

-7) maybe placed between the closure and the floor to preventleakage of grain.

.A. closure embodying the expedient-s described is' advocated, but it is understood that the foregoing description is not controlling in all respects, for minor changes coming within the-scope of the annexed claimsmay be resorted to if desired.

I claim 7 1. Acollapsible closure including aplu; rality 'of disconnected boards arranged in vertical alinement with their longitudinal torego1ng'descr1p-' edges in abutting relation, the outer ends of these boards bearing against'the car body, and a sustaining member'cooperable with the opposite ends of theboards, said member having a retractableretainer co-operating with the lowermost boards to permit reprising a vertically disposed inwardly -tilt-. able I-beam, and a plurality of separate disconnected boards arranged in a vertical row with their longitudinal edges arranged in abutting relation, said boards bearing at' their outer ends against. the car body and havingtheir opposite nner ends confined nioval thereof when it is desired-to disbetween the flanges of the beam, said beam having a retractable retaining part at its bottom to permit displacement ofthe lowermost boards, whereby to cause automatic collapsingof the entire structure.

' 3. A closure of the class described comprising an I-beam designed to be detach-ably and pivotally "connected at its lower end with the floor of acar body, a pivoted locking plate associated with the lower end of said beam, and a plurality of disconnected boards. arranged horizontally and disposed in a'vertical row, the outer ends of the boards bearing against the car-body and the inner "ends being confined betweenwthe flanges of the beam, with the lowermost boards disposed in rear of said hinged plate to permit them. tobe displaced when said plate is moved toreleasing position. i

" 4-. In a, closure of-the class described, an

I-beam having one flange terminatinga considerable distance upward of its lower end with the other flange terminating a short distance inward of said end, anchoring means connected with that part of the web projecting beyond the ends of said flanges. and retaining means hingedly connected with the short flange and occupying a con: to

siderable space between this end of'the flange and the adjacent end'of the. web.

I In a closure of the class described, a sustaining bar -'embodying a retractable break-joint retaining device comprising a part pivot-ally connected-to the bar and a substantially channel-shaped part pivotally connected to the intermediate portion ofthe first named part, and a 'slidable release device pivotally mounted on thesecond named part and cooperable with the first named part to prevent relative pivotal movement of the two parts.

6. In a closure ofthe class described, a sustaining device-inthe. form of an I-beam having relatively wideand narrow flanges, the last named flange beingprovided intermediate its ends withopposed notche's'to re ceive a. wedge-like insert, and the web of said beam being provided at vertically spaced points With transverse ribs to be embedded in the inner ends of the boards which are adapted to be disposed between said flanges.

7. In a closure of the class described, an anchoring plate formed with a substantially cross-shaped slot, and a sustaining bar for a plurality of boards adapted .to have its web portion projected through said slot, and a pin connected with said bar and extending at right angles therefrom, said pin being intended to be passed through the short transverse portion of said slot, and drawn beneath the long portion of the slot to connect the bar with the plate.

8. In combination, a car body having a door opening in one side, and a closure for said opening, said closure being composed of duplicateinwardly converging sections,

each of which is composed of a plurality of separate disconnectible boards arranged in a vertical row with their longitudinal edges engaging one another, the outer ends of the boards bearing against the car body, and means interposed between the inner ends of said sections for maintaining them in operative position, said means being pivotally connected at its lower end with the floor of the car body to permit it to be tilted to the fixed my s gnature.

proper angle to facilitate assembling of the boards.

9. Sustaining means of the class described comprising an I-beam having relatively wide and narrow flanges between which the ends of the boards of closure; sections are adapted to be confined,one of said flanges terminating short of the lower end of the beam, the latter being provided at its lower end with an enlarged head carrying laterally disposed anchoring studs; and a breakjoint retaining device for the lowermost boards of the closure sections, said device comprising a part pivotally connected to the lower extremity of the aforesaid short flange, a substantially channel-shaped part which is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of the first named pivoted part, and a slidable release device pivotally connected with the second named part and disposed between the side flanges thereof, said slidable release device being adapted to engage the first named pivoted part to prevent relative pivotal movement of both of said parts.

In testimony whereof I CHARLES E. wnnsrnn.

have hereunto af- 

